Kate Beckinsale will soon return to the big screen as the beautiful and deadly Selene in "Underworld: Evolution," the vampires vs. werewolves opus that banked a respectable amount at the multiplex and went on to score surprisingly huge DVD sales.

Selene is definitely one of our 10 favorite vampires in movie history. (She's also the hottest). And the other nine, you ask?

Okay, we'll bite.

9. William Marshall as Mamuwalde in "Blacula" (1972)

While spawned by the Blaxploitation explosion of the early '70s, the character of Blacula is far more tragic and complex than a mere Shaft with fangs. In 1780, an African Prince named Mamuwalde seeks the aid of Count Dracula in ending slavery (a pairing that would've made our five dollar bills look awfully funny). Instead, Dracula puts the bite on Mamuwalde, who lies undead in a coffin until he's resurrected in 20th-century Los Angeles.

The movie is kinda pedestrian, but William Marshall is oddly touching as the regal prince.

Written and directed by Kathryn Bigelow, this cult film tells the tale of a traveling band of vampires (although the word is never used) sucking the lifeblood from unsuspecting Okies. This truly original take on vampire lore puts Bill Paxton in the spotlight as the bad-boy vamp, Severen, whose bar-hopping ways will make waitresses wary of any patron who asks for an empty glass. But we prefer the more laid-back Henriksen as Hooker, the vampire leader who has more Clint Eastwood than Bela Lugosi in his demeanor.

Roman Polanksi's 1967 vampire comedy plays like a surrealistic fairy tale, and aside from its gorgeous visuals (not the least of which is Polanski's wife, Sharon Tate), it's got some hilarious bits. At one point, a potential victim tries to fend off the vampire Shagal with a crucifix — the only problem is, Shagal is Jewish, thus unaffected by the sign of the cross! Of the thousands of movie vampires, Shagal is without question the only one to utter the words, "Oy, vey!"

5. Edward Herrmann as Max in "The Lost Boys" (1987)

Kiefer Sutherland, Shmiefer Shmutherland. OK, it's hard to say, but the point is, the highlight of Joel Schumacher's teen-vampire romp isn't a young Keifer, but Ed Herrmann as Max, the seemingly harmless suitor of the Emerson family matron (Dianne Wiest). Sons Mike (Jason Patrick) and Sam (Corey Haim) immediately take a disliking to Max, a feeling magnified when they discover that his desire to win the heart of dear old Mom has more to do with the blood within than the love below. Grandpa Gilmore, say it ain't so!

4. John Amplas in "Martin" (1977)

You'd think that zombie-meister George Romero's foray into vampire lore would yield the most gruesome bloodsucker of all. It's ironic, then, that in 1977's "Martin," we're never sure whether the disturbed titular teenager actually is, or only thinks he is, a vampire. Martin needs to use razor blades and syringes to drain the blood from his victims and becomes a regular caller to a local radio show. This intelligent, dark brooder (Romero's most overlooked film) is actually more drama than horror — and that's not meant as an insult.

It's a toss-up for favorite vampire in this collaboration between writer Quentin Tarantino and director Robert Rodriguez. There's Cheech Marin's bitin' bouncer, Chet Pussy; Danny Trejo as the bartender, Razor Charlie; and Tom Savini as Sex Machine, with a gun in his pocket (he's not happy to see you). But as Santanico Pandemonium, a belly-dancing monster vampire, Salma Hayek can snake-charm the machine-gun-wielding pants off of pretty much anyone. Remember, folks: Even in Mexico, never drink tequila off of a vampire's toes.

2. Bela Lugosi in "Dracula" (1933)

Obvious choice? Sure, but the fact remains that when someone says the name "Dracula," Lugosi's wine-abstaining Prince of Darkness is still the image that pops into mind. One of the most indelible portrayals in film history, the Hungarian stage actor's Transylvanian Count might not be as frightening as, say, Gary Oldman in Francis Ford Coppola's otherwise miscast 1992 remake — Keanu and Winona? Please! — and he might not be the number one vampire on our list. But Legosi, with his thick accent and stiff, exotic demeanor, is by far the most iconic.

1. Max Schreck as Count Orlok in "Nosferatu" (1922)

After over 80 years, still the scariest. In F.W. Murnau's 1922 German film, "Nosferatu, eine Symphonie des Grauens" (Nosferatu, a Symphony of Horror), Max Schreck plays Count Graf Orlok, a bone-white human rodent with elongated claw-like fingers and ratlike teeth. An unauthorized adaptation of Bram Stoker's "Dracula," the film is a haunting black-and-white exemplar of German Expressionism. "Nosferatu" has only grown in creepiness since 1922 — partially due to the alienating feel of the film that has accrued with time. Modern viewers often find even comedies from that era unsettling due to the stark difference in style, technology and setting. When you add a plague of rats and a truly terrifying Dracula to the mix, there's absolutely nothing comforting in "Nosferatu." And we mean that as the ultimate praise.

Runner-up bloodsuckers include Kirsten Dunst as Claudia in "Interview With the Vampire" (1994), a wee undead girl way scarier than Tom Cruise as Lestat; Paul "Pee-Wee Herman" Reubens as Amilyn, the fanged freakazoid from "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" (1992); Stephen Geoffreys as Evil Ed, the campiest vamp of all in "Fright Night" (1985); and David Bowie as John, the most rock-and-roll vampire in "The Hunger" (1983). If we neglected to list your favorite sucker, please don't take it personally. Wait ... do we smell garlic?